As one of the top career and resume consultants, I hear a lot these days about how job seekers may "sell themselves," "create a personal brand," and "convey their value proposition," to borrow a word I frequently employ. When you're trying to find work in a challenging employment market, all of this can be scary. I know because I've been there.

After seeing a fantastic concert last week, I've been thinking a lot about this. The performer in question is a young Scottish singer-songwriter currently on tour in the United States. Paolo Nutini's music is difficult to categorise because his most recent CD is an eclectic blend of reggae, bluegrass, acoustic folky stuff, a little rock... He's much more difficult to sum up as a performance. He isn't dressed in a fashionable manner. He's a dreadful dancer. He spends the most of the show slumped down in an awkward stance, seldom making eye contact with the audience - in fact, he closed his eyes for the majority of his New York performance. His performance style is so unusual that one woman mistook him for someone who had been drinking. 'I would have loved it a lot more if he hadn't been so annoying,' she said to her buddy.

Despite this, the show was enthralling! It was the most enjoyable concert I've attended in a long time. Why? I believe it's because the music and the performance were both really authentic. Paolo and his band were fully in touch with their tunes, and they emanated delight. An audience that sensed and returned the honesty amplified the joy.

Increasingly, When I work with my clients, I try to capture this essence. When I first started working with a team of resume consultants, I followed the crowd. I created resumes by copying what I observed others do. My resumes were fine, but they could have come from any of ten different resume services. That is no longer the case. Because, rather than trying to fit my clients' lives into a template, I'm focused on their uniqueness. On what distinguishes them from the rest of the pack. I'm also organising the resume to fully communicate their distinct personal value, which I've recognised. It makes my job a lot more enjoyable than it used to be, and it results in resumes that stand out from the crowd.

If you're seeking for job right now, take a close look at your CV and cover letters to determine if they convey what makes you stand out.

Want to learn more about the same? Get in touch with the best career guidance and resume writing services Canada today!

Buying a new resume is not the same as buying a new automobile. There is no 'blue book' to tell you what you should be paying, and even a ballpark figure is difficult to come across.

As a result, there is some confusion. As one of the top resume consultants and a resume writer, I've discovered that customer expectations are all over the place. Some people estimate that a resume will cost between $100 and $200. Some people are hoping for more than $1,000. And with so much ambiguity, determining the price you're being offered might be difficult.

So, What Should a Resume Cost?

To begin, recognise that the resume writing market is quite fragmented. Most resume writers are self-employed and work from home. They are in charge of their own working hours, regulations, procedures, and pricing. As a result, there is a wide variety of prices. In general, the most experienced and well-known writers and resume services will charge more than those who are new to the field or whose services are in lower demand.

The cost of a product can also be affected by its location. Even if their talents are same, writers or resume consultants who reside in a low-cost location may charge less than those who live in a high-cost metropolis.

My own opinion is that a good resume should cost between $600 and $900 (excluding extras like cover letters or biographies).

When it comes to picking a resume consultants or writers, it's crucial to remember that price isn't everything. If you locate a fantastic writer who can jumpstart your job hunt for less than $900, I think you'd be crazy to walk away and shop about. After all, how many days of work would you need to cover the expense of that fresh resume?

How to Calculate Your Resume ROI

Here's an approximate estimate of how long it will take for your resume to pay off.

Taking into account holidays, weekends, and vacations, an average work year is 2,000 hours (yeah, I know you work a lot more!). But let's begin there.) Simply divide your pay by 2,000 to get your hourly rate.

Multiply that by eight to get your base daily wage.

So, a $150,000 salary equates to $75 per hour or $600 per day.

At that rate, a $1,200 resume will pay for itself after just two days on the job. (And that's before incentives, benefits, stock, and other goodies are included in.)

So How Should You Choose?

Finally, a resume, like any other large purchase, is an investment. You usually get what you pay for, and going for the cheapest option might result in a bad return on investment. On the other hand, the most expensive item does not always imply the best quality. As a result, I recommend analysing experience, work quality, fit, method, and other factors in addition to pricing while making a decision.

According to LinkedIn and resume consultants, you should use LinkedIn to stay in touch with and develop your network when looking for a job. However, there are also what I refer to as "passive advantages." You may catch the attention of recruiters, HR executives, and hiring managers who use LinkedIn to locate prospects just by being on the site and being visible.

The trouble is that if all you do is establish an account, type in some basic information, and then sit back and wait for the emails, these folks will never find you. However, there are several simple things you can do to increase your visibility on the site. My top 5 are as follows:

1.     Fill in a complete profile

You will miss out on opportunities if you do not complete all sections of the profile. Create a compelling introduction, add as many keywords as possible in the specialty, list and write about every job you've ever done, and include all colleges you've attended as well as any trade groups you're a member of. Because it's impossible to predict which of these characteristics a recruiter will look for, making sure everything is included is the quickest method to gain high visibility.

2.     Add as many connections as you can

LinkedIn offers simple methods for finding individuals you know. Make use of each and every one of them. You will be more visible in searches if you are connected to more people.

3.     Join groups

LinkedIn groups not only allow you to network with others in your sector or industry, but they also allow you to boost your visibility by participating in discussions. Take advantage of the opportunity! Recruiters will often search groups looking for good prospects, according to LinkedIn and resume consultants. Show them you are one by providing intelligent responses and comments.

4.     Answer questions

Anyone with a LinkedIn account can use the LinkedIn Answers function to ask a question. After logging in, look for it under the 'More' link at the top of your home page. You'll be able to search for questions in your area of expertise (for example, ‘marketing'), as well as see recent queries from your network. Answers are a great method to display expertise while also assisting others – a vital component of effective networking.

5.     Regularly update your status

When you post status updates, they are available to everyone in your network, so this is a great method to make yourself known to people who know you. It's a good idea to provide updates on your job search every now and then if you're currently seeking for work (which isn't a secret). All it takes is for one of your contacts to notice your update and pass it on to someone who knows about an open position, and you may land an interview.

Want to learn more about the same? Get in touch with LinkedIn and resume writing services Canada today!

As every career and resume consultants will tell you, Twitter has immense potential, and if used appropriately, it may be the key to uncovering secret job prospects as well as forging long-term connections.

There are countless ways to use the site to assist you in your search, but I'd like to focus on three today.

·       Demonstrating knowledge and building a reputation

Assume you're a web designer. You could create a Twitter account and keep your tweets related to web design. You might exchange links to exceptionally good designs, offer advice, and provide links to news items relevant to web designers. If you follow step 2 (below), you'll quickly have people following you (the Twitter word for those who choose to read your tweets) and, before you know it, they'll regard you as an expert on all thing’s web design.

And, of course, when a recruiter looks you up online, they'll see a Twitter page that reflects your expertise, professionalism, and enthusiasm.

·         Making valuable connections

You don't have to ask permission to see someone's tweets on Twitter, which is one of its most appealing features. Unlike Facebook or LinkedIn, where you must first send a request before being accepted, here you simply click the 'follow' button and have immediate access to whatever a person says.

As career and resume consultants advise, you may easily connect with hiring managers and recruiters simply by listening and reacting – and those hiring managers and recruiters will be impressed when they look at your page and see all of your knowledge, skills, and passion.

And after you've formed those contacts, there's no reason you shouldn't inquire about job openings with them.

·       Searching for job opportunities

A search box can be found right at the top of your Twitter home page. This allows you to keep track of discussions that contain keywords you specify. Because many recruiting managers often tweet about their jobs, this is a fantastic opportunity to passively surf for job openings.

Simply go to the search box, enter in your key terms (for example, 'web design jobs' or 'PR internships,' and click the ‘save this search' option in the upper right-hand corner. Choose this option, and you'll be able to search for tweets containing your keywords whenever you log in to Twitter.

And one more thing -

People generally only view your Twitter bio before deciding whether or not to follow you, and you're limited to 140 characters as always.

Want to learn more about the same? Get in touch with the best career guidance and resume writing services Canada today!

We have our own reasons to be afraid of this question. We have no notion what the interviewer wants us to say because it's far too broad.

As one of the top interview preparation and resume consultants, I don't believe there is a single solution to this question because your response should always be personalised to your employer's needs. (For this reason, I'm not a huge admirer of the "elevator pitch.") How relevant can it be to this particular employer at this particular time if you've prepared and learned it ahead of time?)

I believe there are three phases to preparing a decent response to this most dreaded of questions, all of which must be completed before to each interview. That way, if those papers start to rustle, you'll be ready.

Step 1: Assess what’s important to the company

Your response, no matter how clever or succinct, will fall flat unless it is relevant to the job's requirements. Consider what's important in this type of employment and within this business if you're applying for a marketing manager job in the music industry. If you're not sure, look it up!

As a result, our marketing manager understands the importance of doing more with less in the music industry. Music sales are falling, which means budgets are shrinking. He also recognises the need of having a thorough understanding of the sector.

Step 2: Make a list of things that make you a good fit for the role

It's fine if you don't utilise all of them in your answer. Making a list, according to interview prep and resume consultants, will boost your confidence for the interview. Furthermore, some of the items on your list will assist you in answering additional interview questions later on.

Our marketing manager has worked on viral and street marketing campaigns before, is used to working on tight budgets, and has always produced positive outcomes. He has prior expertise in a relevant profession (he used to advertise movies), so he is familiar with the entertainment industry.

Step 3: Plan your answer

Remember that the recruiter isn't interested in learning everything there is to know about you. She simply thinks this is an excellent way to measure your capacity to perform under duress, or your ability to talk on the spot, or any other key character quality.

The most typical error people make (and I've made it) is to start babbling about ancient history, as if they're attempting to give the entire narrative. This is a blunder that will cause the interviewer's eyes to glaze over as she plots her next Candy Crush Saga play.

Instead, take one of these three steps to get a perfect score on the interview.

Want to learn more about the same? Get in touch with the best interview prep and resume writing services Canada today!